Unrated Action Thriller On Hulu Sees A-List Star Taking Out The Trash
By now you’re probably well acquainted with the subgenre of films which follow seemingly average blue collar workers who secretly moonlight as badass assassins or trained warriors. We’ve seen this trend in films like The Accountant, The Beekeeper, The Equalizer, Nobody, and many more. 2021’s Adrien Brody-starring Clean is one such movie in this niche which defies expectations and shocks audiences, offering a jaw-dropping adventure currently streaming on Hulu.
Adrien Brody’s Many Contributions To Clean
Clean was written and directed by Bullet Head filmmaker Paul Solet, with an additional writing credit to the movie’s lead actor, Adrien Brody. Though Brody is best known for his work in front of the camera, he is said to have been instrumental in this film’s creation, having conceptualized the initial story, served as a producer, and even contributed to the film’s score as a composer. Brody is joined in the cast of Clean by a number of talented performers, including Richie Merritt, Mykelti Williamson, Michelle Wilson, Chandler DuPont, Barry‘s Glenn Fleshler, and Wu-Tang Clan rapper RZA.
From Salvage To Slaughter
The narrative of Clean centers on a New York garbage collector who primarily works in a run-down urban part of town. In a bid to save on waste and make a few bucks on the side, the man, nicknamed “Clean” by his associates, repairs and salvages items from the garbage to sell in his friend’s local thrift shop. One night, as Clean picks up from his usual route, the movie takes an unexpected turn, resulting in the garbage collector interrupting a drug trafficking deal between a pair of local street gangs.
Heating Up In The Name Of Redemption
As the Clean movie continues building to an unrated climax loaded with blood and violence, the audience comes to learn of Clean’s tragic backstory, and his desire to redeem himself from his past mistakes by taking a few young neighborhood kids under his wing.
Things heat up for Clean when he encounters the son of the local mob boss attacking a child in the street, causing Clean to unleash his inner fighter.
From there, the film sees the blue-collar city worker taking on the underbelly of organized crime in Utica, New York, offering something of a blend between John Wick, Batman, and Hutch Mansell from Nobody.
Brody Brawling Like Batman
The Adrien Brody vehicle first premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2021 before the distribution rights were purchased by IFC Films. Clean received mixed reviews from professional movie critics upon arrival, with some calling the film derivative due to its well-trodden subject matter, and others expressing interest in Brody’s excellent leading performance. Today, Clean touts an unimpressive 47 percent critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, though the film has become something of an underground cult watch for fans of this niche.
Streaming Clean On Hulu
GFR SCORE
Despite the reactions of some critics, I still feel that Clean is a movie worth watching. It certainly isn’t perfect, but it’s a tight 90 minute movie that offers exactly what you’re looking for within this specific niche, and delivers on all cylinders without reinventing the wheel. If you’re interested in checking this one out for yourself, feel free to stream Clean on Hulu today.
